Two simple free throws transformed a season from mind-boggling
disappointment to radiant hopefulness in a matter of seconds.
The UCLA women’s basketball team’s lingering,
season-long weakness was once again a problem: They had trouble
from the charity stripe in the waning moments of their game at
Oregon.
But they recovered just in time, and what could have been a
season-ending loss now appears to have secured UCLA’s
postseason ticket into the Big Dance.
Sophomore Lindsey Pluimer drained two enormous free throw
attempts that clinched UCLA’s 66-65 victory over the Oregon
Ducks on Saturday afternoon. It was anything but perfect, as the
only thing fading away faster than UCLA’s lead was the game
clock.
But on a day when Washington and USC suffered upsets on the
road, the one thing UCLA’s win did symbolize was a
late-season stand its conference rivals couldn’t muster.
UCLA (17-10, 12-6) took third place in the Pac-10, ahead of
Washington and USC, which finished a game back because of their
losses.
UCLA will play California, which beat Washington on Saturday, in
the first round of the conference tournament.
“We accomplished what we set out to: Sweep the road
trip,” UCLA coach Kathy Olivier said. “The was never a
time when I questioned whether or not we would win the game. But we
also made it very interesting. Not too many calm moments in that
one.”
That’s because UCLA’s one-point victory was, as much
as anything else, the definitive sigh of relief.
In the final two minutes, the Bruins had numerous opportunities
to finish off the Ducks but couldn’t quite do it. Junior
guard Noelle Quinn, who finished the game with nine points and 11
rebounds, hit a jumper to give her team a 63-57 lead with a minute
and a half to play, and it appeared the game was well in hand.
But Quinn and junior forward Amanda Livingston both missed the
front end of a one-and-one free throw inside the last 30 seconds of
the game that kept the Ducks on life support.
When Oregon guard Chelsea Wagner traveled in the pressure of
full court defense, Pluimer was quickly fouled after the inbounds
pass.
The sophomore forward made her free throws and did what UCLA has
had trouble doing all season long: win a close game, even when its
play wasn’t spectacular or inspiring.
In that regard, it was a win that couldn’t help but
inspire its coach.
“We have struggled to win these games,” Olivier
said. “That’s what makes it a good win.”
Pluimer and senior guard Lisa Willis led the club with 17 points
each, and Willis registered a career-high 14 rebounds. The sweep of
the Oregon schools marked a resurgence for Pluimer, who struggled
in UCLA’s final homestand.
“I feel good heading into Pac-10s,” she said.
“I ended the regular season on the right note. We all
did.”